December 15, 2003
It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas….at the Lehigh Valley
International Airport this year…especially for children from the Make-A-Wish® Foundation of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Contact: Ron Giordan
Communications and Volunteer Director
Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority
1 - 570 - 829 - 3235

The Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, in conjunction with Southeast Airlines Inc., have arranged to take fifty children from Make-A-Wish® to the North Pole this year for personal visits with Santa.

"The project, affectionately known as Southeast Santa Flight, is the outgrowth of a wish by one of our Board members, Kelly Ronalds," according to Jessie Hardy, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish®. Ronalds, Director of Sales for the Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau teamed up with Susan Kittle, Director of Business Development for the Airport Authority and the two dreamed of a special program for the children suffering life-threatening illnesses. "From there," Hardy said, "the sky was literally the limit as M.J. Hoday, Vice President of Southeast Airlines got involved. Southeast adopted the concept and provided the jetliner, Captain, First Officer and Flight Crew, as well as a ground crew for the project. The Airport Authority donated the fuel, the UAW-GM lent their financial support and all that was left was to fill the plane!"

On Tuesday, December 9th, at approximately 5:15 p.m., Southeast's Santa Flight will officially depart from the Lehigh Valley International Airport on its inaugural run. Fifty children, their parents, elves, reporters and broadcasters will make the long trip to the North Pole.

From official carry-on luggage and Santa shirts, to antlers, jingle bells and more, the children will board the DC9 bound for the North Pole. In flight, they will be treated to cookies and milk and a reading of "The Night Before Christmas." Upon reaching the North Pole headquarters of the jolly one, children will have the opportunity to have their photo taken with the volunteer crew before departing the jetliner. Once on ground, they will be greeted by Mrs. Claus, who will see to it that the children are fed a hearty dinner of chicken fingers and fries, macaroni and cheese, applesauce, juice and hot chocolate before Santa will make his appearance.

Santa will arrive in grand style on the back of the airport fire engine and proceed to the party. There, each child will have a chance to whisper a wish in his ear, have their photo taken, and receive a goody bag filled with gifts and surprises. Santa, and only Santa, will reveal the clue as to how the children will return to the Lehigh Valley!!!

The project has been a labor of love for the Make-A-Wish® staff and all aspects of airport operations who could not have done the job without the assistance of the following businesses: Southeast Airlines, Inc., Lehigh Valley International Airport, Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, United Auto Workers/GM Dealers, Binney & Smith, The Crossings, CPG Partners, Inc., Macy's, Sacred Heart Hospital, Wal~Mart (Whitehall), Gertrude Hawk, Nestle, Just Borne, Ralph Edward's Productions, Rileigh's and Convention Hall, Pittston, Pa.